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Updated: May 13, 2026
Neuronal Differentiation from Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells In vitro
Published on: June 2, 2020
Oxygen-controlled automated neural differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells
Paul Mondragon-Teran1, Rui Tostoes, Chris Mason
1Biomedical Research Division, Centro Medico Nacional '20 de Noviembre' - ISSSTE. San Lorenzo 502, Del Valle, Benito Juarez, México City, 03229 México.
Unlabelled:
Automation and oxygen tension control are two tools that provide significant improvements to the reproducibility and efficiency of stem cell production processes.
Aim:
the aim of this study was to establish a novel automation platform capable of controlling oxygen tension during both the cell-culture and liquid-handling steps of neural differentiation processes.
Materials & Methods:
We built a bespoke automation platform, which enclosed a liquid-handling platform in a sterile, oxygen-controlled environment. An airtight connection was used to transfer cell culture plates to and from an automated oxygen-controlled incubator.
Results:
Our results demonstrate that our system yielded comparable cell numbers, viabilities, metabolism profiles and differentiation efficiencies when compared with traditional manual processes. Interestingly, eliminating exposure to ambient conditions during the liquid-handling stage resulted in significant improvements in the yield of MAP2-positive neural cells, indicating that this level of control can improve differentiation processes.
Conclusion:
This article describes, for the first time, an automation platform capable of maintaining oxygen tension control during both the cell-culture and liquid-handling stages of a 2D embryonic stem cell differentiation process.
